Strawberry plant named ‘Playa’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’).

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Varietal denominations: ‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’).

‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated 107707 and a male parent cultivar designated 103474 (both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108926’ and subsequently named ‘Playa’.

This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This cultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Playa’. These cultivars are primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Playa’ from known strawberry varieties. In addition, this new cultivar was confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm when tested against the California Seed & Plant Lab, Inc. (Elverta, Calif.) database using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The fruit produced by this new cultivar is attractive and of excellent quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows ripe fruits of ‘Playa’.

FIG. 2 shows ‘Playa’ plants in the field with ripe and near-ripe fruits.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Playa’ plants growing in the field.

FIG. 4 shows ‘Playa’ plant leaves with petioles.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up look of a ‘Playa’ plant leaf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’)

This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Playa’. It is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Playa’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

‘Playa’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

Hybrid Patent Data Sheet (planted: October Year 1; measurement: November Year 2) Variety: PLAYA (A.K.A. ‘108926’) Plant Plant Growth Habit Semi-upright Day length neutral Planting Season fall Height (mm) 380 Diameter (mm) 360 (the entire plant structure, including the “superstructure” of petioles, leaves, flowers) 70 (inner “base” or “heart” structure of the plant, i.e. the mature apical and axial crowns of the strawberry plant where petioles, flowers and runners are attached) Density of foliage heavy Average number of crowns per 4 mature plant Plant vigor high Rain/weather tolerance (e.g., high, moderate moderate, or low) Harvest Ease moderate Terminal Leaf Length (mm) 99 Width (mm) 91 Terminal leaflet length/width ratio 0.9 Blistering none Terminal leaf shape orbicular Number of teeth/terminal leaflet: 20 Shape of the terminal leaflet base obtuse Shape of terminal leaflet in cross- concave section Margin description of the terminal serrate Shape of teeth obtuse Color of upper side of leaves 137A Color of lower side of leaves 139C Leaf glossiness medium to weak presence or absence of any leaf absence variegation Number of leaflets 66 Terminal Leaflet margin flat Terminal Leaflet shape of apex rounded Petiole Length (mm) 244 Width (mm) 4 Petiole pubescence medium Petiole pose of hairs outwards Petiole color 145B Attitude of hairs on petiole and Outwards to horizontal pedicel Petiolule Length (mm) 48 Width(mm) 3.2 Stolon Diameter (mm) 4 Stolon color 145A Widest diameter of stolon at point 4.78 of attachment of leaf (mm) Stolon anthocyanin 187A Density of pubescence on the stolon Medium Stolon number 2 to 12 Stolon thickness Large Stolon attitude outwards Stolon size medium to large Inflorescence Petal/flower NA Inflorescence even position relative Number of flowers per plant 30-40 Fertility self-fertile Time of flowering March to April Corolla (mm) 13 Calyx (mm) 5 Calyx color 137C Position of calyx attachment inserted Level of adherence of calyx High Petal length (mm) 17 Petal width (mm) 7 Petal per flower 5 Flower arrangement of petals free to touching Upper petal color 155C Lower petal color 155D Sepal length (mm) 19 Sepal width (mm) 9 Sepals per flower 10 Peduncle size (cm) 22.5 Stipule height (mm) 27 Stipule width (mm) 11 Stipule attitude upwards Stipule coloration 145B Pedicel coloration 145A Anther coloration 12A Stamen count 22 Stamen shape dorsifixed Stamen length (mm) 4.03 Fruit Fruit/truss 1-5 Length (mm) 37 Width (mm) 29 Fruit length/width ratio 1.27 Core length (mm) 30 Core width (mm) 9 Glossiness medium Fruiting truss attitude erect Fruit skin color 41A Evenness of fruit color medium Predominant fruit shape long-conical Difference in shape between none to very slight primary & secondary fruits Width of the band without achenes medium Position of the achenes inserted Number of achenes per fruit 257 Achene weight (g) 0.18 Achene coloration 152D Flesh color 45A excluding core 41A Color of fruit core 41A Firmness of flesh firm Texture when tasted medium Time of fruit ripening April Harvest maturity (50% of plants early with ripe fruit) Grams of fruit/plant (g) 678 (During peak season, June) Appearance Score 4 (from 1-5, with 5 = best) Storage longevity (e.g., 10 days to 2 9 days-13 days weeks) Cull rate: Non salable fruit <10% production rate Disease and pest resistance Not tested Acidity as measured by pH 3.26 Sweetness as measured by brix 9

When ‘Playa’ is compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Playa’ has a lower height. The density of foliage of ‘Playa’ is heavy, while the density of foliage of the female parent is medium.

When ‘Playa’ is compared to the proprieiary male parent, ‘Playa’ has stolons that are much thicker than the stolons of the male parent. Additionally, ‘Playa’ presents smaller trifoliate leaflets and much larger and fruit than the male parent.

When ‘Playa’ is compared to ‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 07,614), ‘Playa’ has a density of foliage that is heavy, while the density of foliage of Seascape’ is light. The plant vigor of ‘Playa’ is high, while the plant vigor of ‘Seascape’ is moderate. The leaf glossiness of ‘Playa’ ranges from medium to weak, while the leaf glossiness of ‘Seascape’ is medium. The number of leaflets of ‘Playa’ is 66, while the number of leaflets of ‘Seascape’ is 49. ‘Playa’ presents larger fruit than ‘Seascape’ as well. ‘Playa’ tri-foliate leaves have a more serrate shape relative to the crenate leaves of ‘Seascape’. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Playa’ substantially as shown and described herein. 